s of Ascalon's pacification with gratifying
result. Already parties of Illinois and Indiana farmers, who had been
looking to that country for a good while, were preparing to come out and
scout for locations.

"They're getting tired of farming that high-priced land, Morgan. They're
wearing it out, it costs them more for fertilizers than they take off of
it. They're coming here, where a man can plow a furrow forty miles long,
we tell them--and it's the gospel truth, a hundred miles, or two hundred
if he wanted to--and never hit a stump."

Judge Thayer got up at that point, and stood in his door looking at the
dull sky sullen with heat; looking at the glimmer that rose like
impalpable smoke from the hard surface of the cracked, baked earth.

"But I wish we could get a good rain before they begin to come," he
sighed, "and I think--" cautiously, with a sly wink at Morgan--"we're
going to get it. I've got a man here right now working on it, along
scientific principles, Morgan--entirely scientific."

"A rainmaker?" said Morgan, his incredulity plain in his tone.

"He came to me highly recommended by bankers and others in Nebraska,
where he undoubtedly brought rain, and in Texas, where the proof is
indisputable. But I'm doing it solely on my own account," Judge Thayer
hastened to explain, "carrying the cost alone. He's under contract to
bring a copious rain not later than seven days from today."

"What's the bill?" Morgan asked, amused by this man's eager credulity.

"One hundred dollars on account, four hundred to be paid the day he
delivers the rain--provided that he delivers it within the specified
time. I've bound him up in a contract."

"I think he'll win," said Morgan, drily, looking meaningly at the murky
sky.

"It's founded on science, pure science, Morgan," Judge Thayer declared,
warmly. "I'm telling you this in confidence, not another soul in town
knows it outside of my own family. We'll keep it a pleasant secret--I
want to give the farmers and cattlemen of this valley the present of a
surprise. When the proper time comes I'll announce the responsible
agency, I'll show that crowd over at Glenmore where the progressive
people of this county live, I'll prove to the doubters and knockers
where the county seat belongs!"

"It's a great scheme," Morgan admitted. "How does the weather doctor
work?"

"Chemicals," Judge Thayer whispered, mysteriously; "sends up vapors day
and night, invisible, mainly, but potent,